A group of self-styled Robin Hoods recently boasted on the web about "freeing food from supermarkets" as stores across the country continue to face record theft and shoplifting rate.
Campaigners from Everybody Eats, a group calling for direct action on food poverty, posted on social media about stealing from the M&S Foodhall in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, after launching their first raid at the weekend.
It’s understood the goods were later donated to food banks in the area, with some of the activists dressed in Robin Hood costumes.
The activists warned that they would “keep replicating this all across the country” until the government answered their demands on food security.
Everybody Eats posted on X, formerly Twitter, on April 14, "Today we took food from an M&S in Manchester without paying for it. This food will now be distributed straight to people in the community as well as local food banks. We did this because the government and the corporations are doing next to nothing for food security.
"So we are doing this both to convince them to change that and to do our best to fill the gap until they do. We will keep replicating this all across the country until we no longer have to. We cannot sit by as we and our friends, our families, our neighbours starve."
M&S reportedly has reported the incident to the police. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a shoplifting incident was reported at 1.40pm on April 14 at a shop in the area. The force is investigating, and urged anyone with information to contact officers.
Another YouTube video posted by the group shows the activists walking into the supermarket to fill bags with olive oil, bread, cereal, oat milk and other items. Although the group claims that they "free" only essential items, one of the pictures circulated by them on social media shows an activist holding a bag of Percy Pig sweets.
